NEWS 2015

Xmas Special - the Duchess calls

Saturday 19th December: Stainier Pacific "46233 Duchess of Sutherland" called this morning at St Albans hauling the Yuletide Express for a festive trip to York (organised by The Railway Touring Company).

Framed in the light of a mild winter's dawn, this mighty veteran of the West Coast mainline thrilled passengers and spectactors alike with the whistle, steam and lingering smoke of bygone years.

A most fitting finale to another sucessful year at St Albans Signal Box and many thanks to the Duchess, our members, visitors and supporters for all the effort.

....and a later update from near Alfreton in Derbyshire - the Duchess at speed (see picture opposite).

See the video on You-Tube:

Train Describer Unit Bid - latest

We have heard that our request to the NRM for a train describer demonstration unit (surplus to their requirements) has been successful. The paperwork has to be sorted out and the item collected. When that is done. hopefully sometime early in 2016, we will have the unit for display. (See News 2016 for an update.)

New lighting

With the darker evenings, we have improved the lighting on the stairs to the first floor. We tried out a temporary LED floodlight on a length of timber we had. We eventually hope to mock up a 'Yard Lamp' standing a bit further away from the stairs and box.

Here also is a dusk view of the garden towards the end of our November Open Afternoon.

Duct Repairs

At the north end of the garden we still had a few feet of our timber cable duct to renew. With the loss of foliage due to both Autumn and some heavy pruning, access was possible during the recent warm weather and the work was then carried out: The older duct running between the hedge and fence had to be connected up to the revised duct, seen here before work started:. The old duct was adjusted and repaired,and with the hedge recently trimmed back, the whole run of the duct was inspected and a few minor repairs made where needed:

New Lamp

A new acquisition was mounted and tried out on Weds 16th Dec, seen here as dusk fell. It's a 'T' sign indicating the end of a speed restriction.

New Signs

At the end of the year we were approached by Kevin Stephens, a long time supporter of the box, and offered part of the collection he and his wife Loraine had amassed over a number of years. Kevin was moving out of St Albans and was keen that some 40 odd items, mainly advertising signs, should go on display at the signal box. As you can see from the photographs this is a fantastic collection which we are pleased to display.

The trust will be making a donation to Beat Ovarian Cancer at www,justgiving.com/loraine-stephens and would encourage members and visitors to do the same and support this worthwhile cause.

St Albans, Private Owner Wagons

St Albans Signal Box Preservation Trust, custodians of St Albans South Signal Box, have produced limited edition runs of two private owner wagons based on local prototypes. The wagons have been made by Dapol and are available at £12 each from the Signal Box on its regular open days or through the website www.sigbox.co.uk (plus postage and packing)